Being on a waiting list for heart surgery could be difficult and anxiety-provoking. Having a better understanding of patients’ experiences during this time, and what their preferences are for their upcoming surgery, might help to alleviate the emotional burden associated with waiting. This could also improve the management of waiting lists for heart surgery.
Previous research on patients’ experiences of waiting for surgery has shown that factors such as individual coping strategies (e.g. distraction from distressing thoughts, acceptance of the situation), clear communication with the clinical team, or having a more active role in care decision-making, can reduce the stress associated with waiting. Although this is very relevant to patients waiting for heart surgery, there has not been a study specifically looking at this group of patients.
KIS researchers addressed this gap by exploring experiences, perceptions and preferences of patients waiting for elective (non-emergency) heart surgery across four London NHS hospitals that belong to King’s Health Partners (KHP): Royal Brompton, Harefield, St Thomas’, and King’s College hospitals.
Project aim
To investigate patients’ experiences, perceptions and preferences about waiting for elective (planned) heart surgery.
Key objectives
To understand:
- How patients feel their heart condition affects their day-to-day life
- How patients experience being on a waiting list for heart surgery
- What factors patients consider as most important for their upcoming surgery (e.g. to have their surgery as soon as possible, at their nearest hospital, or carried out by a specific surgeon)
- Patients’ opinions about how the heart surgery waiting list experience could be improved.
Contact: waitingforheartsurgery@kcl.ac.uk
Collaborators
Mario Petrou (consultant cardiac surgeon at Royal Brompton Hospital), David Hardy (project manager, King's Health Partners Cardiovascular & Respiratory Partnership Programme) and colleagues at St Thomas’ Hospital, Royal Brompton Hospital, Harefield Hospital, and King’s College Hospital.
Outputs
- Blog: Counting down': patients experience of waiting for heart surgery in the UK (August 2025)
- Patient preferences and experiences of waiting for heart surgery: webinar (September 2024)
- Lived experience commentary: Reflections from the study team's PPI members, published in BMJ Open
- Visual abstract: Understanding patient experiences of waiting for cardiac surgery
Findings and recommendations
The research team concluded that regardless of the type of clinical population, waiting for surgery has an impact on mental wellbeing, level of functioning and overall quality of life for patients and their carers’. Providing guidance and good communication would be crucial to improve the patient’s experience of being on a waiting list for elective surgery. They recommend:
- Supporting mental well-being and life functioning;
- Improving communication during the waiting time;
- Involving patients in decision-making;
- Making resources and information accessible.
Implementing these suggestions as appropriate could greatly contribute to enhancing the experiences of patients on waiting lists, potentially mitigating the overall impact that the wait can have on their physical and health preparedness for their upcoming surgery, and therefore ultimate outcomes.
Meet the project team
